SCP-5489 : I, Nixon

SCP-5489 has currently taken residence in the Site-48 pool supply closet. Personnel are forbidden from discussing classified topics in pool area. Researcher Ustinov is instructed to continue counter-espionage campaign at least once per work day. Custodial staff have been instructed to refuse to acknowledge presence of SCP-5489 behind the locker.

SCP-5489 is a covert listening device created by GoI-16 which has infiltrated Site-48. SCP-5489 is a passive cavity resonator1 with no power supply; when 'illuminated' by correct radio frequency identification2, audio data can be transmitted through SCP-5489 to a radio demodulator. Although this demodulator has never been recovered, and although ultra-high frequencies operate via line-of-sight propagation, it is believed that SCP-5489 is transmitting this data to points outside of Site-48. SCP-5489 is sapient, capable of spontaneous translocation, and cannot be contained at a fixed location. Item has the superficial appearance of a framed photograph of former US President Richard Nixon, which changes with every relocation event.

Item was discovered on 05/25/1989 by Officer Gomez. Object identified by CCTV to have manifested within right main elevator platform at 13:02. Unknown if object had infiltrated site prior to this.

05/25/1989

Location: Main Elevator
Personnel Present: Officer Tillerson, Officer Gomez

… So don't bitch at me about not getting you anything, you can go down to the break room yourself.

Okay, it's nothing.

Hey, when did they put up a photo of Dick?

What?

<SCP-5489 translocates, leaving no trace.>

What?

Officers reported event as a containment breach or potential reality restructuring.
Item was identified by search team multiple times with similar translocations as a result.

05/25/1989

Location: Evacuation Route A
Personnel Present: Commanding Officer Ian, Officer Rogan, Technician Sweikart

Okay, clear.

<Officer Rogan pages C.O. Ian and Tech Sweikart the following message: "anom between portraits in evac". Sweikart and Rogan vacate the vicinity and begin taking readings across the spectrum.>

[Whisper] No radiation from here. No heat.

[Whisper] Do we get closer?

[Whisper] No, wait for C-O.

<Pause.>

[Whisper] I'm getting closer.

<Officer Rogan nonchalantly enters room. Radiation instruments do not spike, and Technician Sweikart enters for further readings.>

So, uh… This hallway's really cozy, I think. Am I allowed to loiter here, normally, officer?

Oh yes that is normal, with your normal radio.

<Technician Sweikart cycles the dial on his demodulator. Eventually, he reaches a signal which broadcasts both the audio from within Evac Route A as well as an unknown female speaking Russian. Technician pages Officer Rogan, two feet away, "should we get ustinov".>

[Entering] Alright, which picture is the little shit?

<SCP-5489 translocates, leaving no trace.>

God dammit!

Data gathered-

• Item does not emit radiation or heat;
• Item has an internal cavity;
• Item only responds to tactile and acoustic stimulus
• Item continued to broadcast on same frequency after translocation

Object relocated to Research Office C#6. Office was vacated pending proper containment.

05/26/1989

Location: Office C#6
Personnel Present: C.O. Ian, Technician Sweikart, Researcher Ustinov

[Whisper] No, yep. It's GRU alright. Straight said it.

[Whisper] Yelled it. One of them is named Searchlight. Pissed that we're looking for their mole.

What the hell do they want here?

[Whisper] Okay, the other guy is done yelling. He signed off.

Okay, how do we get the transmitter?

Don't barge in.

Alright, smart ass.

I have an idea.

<Ustinov enters C#6 with a demodulator to perform further counter-espionage. He slyly slinks into the seat below SCP-5489.>

[Whisper] Psst. Tovarich.

[Russian] Don't fly off. You need to change frequency. 620. No little mice on that channel. Yet.

[RU] Searchlight, hurry, before they find your spot again.

[RU] … Who is speaking?

[RU] My designation cannot be disclosed. Double blind espionage on this site. This is extreme circumstances, the device needs to be exfiltrated.

[RU] They're not gonna catch me, I can stay. I will stay.

Researcher successfully kept SCP-5489 contained for over 40 minutes.

05/27/1989

Location: Wing B Restroom Stall #5
Personnel Present: Researcher Ustinov

Yeah, this is a good spot. A lot of socializing here. A lot of people with their guards down.

Alright, as you say. When will Makerelov be here?

Oh, we'll see. You have a much easier time infiltrating this place, agent. Sit still. And please don't talk to Yuliy. He's also in on it, I've learned.

Yuliy too!? That's the entire comms team!

Don't you think I'm as devastated as you?

Why haven't you just gone to the higher ups? Just tell them our secure frequency.

I think it's better to lay low and keep our comms between you and me. I don't even have much confidence in Makerelov. If they find out that we found out, they could go to higher ups first. Let me find someone we can really confide in.

I can wait.

Stay in touch. I only trust one person. You, Agent Searchlight.

You too, Agent Lionwolf.

Researcher maintained charade for approximately eight months, corralling SCP-5489 into containment whenever necessary.

02/20/1990

Location: Conference Room #02
Personnel Present: Officer Rogan, Researcher Ustinov

<Researcher Ustinov is attempting to negotiate SCP-5489 out of the room, but object is non-responsive and translocating around the room sporadically.>

… Come in, please. Searchlight, this is very urgent. Are you in distress?

Please respond. The traitors are going to assault the Site to stop us from revealing their scheme! Tovarich, respond.

Suka, you're a liar.

Searchlight, what's happening?

I decided to check the original frequency last night. The project heads had an automated message. Telling me to look out for a triple agent who they know only as Dennis Ustinov. And I realized, it was you. You're not a combat engineer. You're an accountant.

No, Searchlight. Please don't tell me they've turned you. They're enemies of our Union!

I thought you were my tovarich.

<SCP-5489 translocates, leaving no trace. Site-48 goes on lockdown to find item.>

…

Okay, It's not in wing L. Proceeding to K.

Yep, I'm right behind you.

So, has it ever told you why it's here?

She's a spy, obviously, and she's—

She?

What? She's undercover. It's not like she's actually the president either.

Well, okay.

She's supposed to be looking into a sleeper agent-supersoldier program we're supposedly developing.

Us?

No, they're called the Reinforcers or something. She got the wrong Site-48.

Are you ever gonna tell her?

No.

<SCP-████ in containment taps the glass divider to its cell. Ustinov notices SCP-████ pointing to SCP-5489 in the ventilation shaft above himself.>

[Gritting teeth] Jenny.

[Clueless] Hmm…?

SCP-5489 has ceased contact with Researcher Ustinov.

08/19/1991

Location: Canteen Freezer
Personnel Present: N/A

<SCP-5489 makes no contact with GoI-16 and for five consecutive days broadcasts a loop of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.>

SCP-5489 resumes espionage operation in a reduced capacity.

10/09/1996

Location: Staff Break Room
Personnel Present: Researcher Ustinov

… You're ready to talk? Why now?

I'm sorry, Lionwolf. They really are all traitorous suk. All this time I've been duped.

You've seen the light?

It seems. Yuliy was the last to go. They're all mercs, every single one. No dedication to a cause, not even this so-called "insurgency" they want me to defect to. Nyet!

Well don't you feel late to the party.

Don't tell me you're jaded too.

I wouldn't tell you that. You and I can keep the mission up. The Union prevails, tovarich.

What mission?

This is very classified. Go somewhere as isolated as you can, I'll meet you. The Union Prevails.

SCP-1974 is contained in the Pool Supply Closet.

10/12/1996

Location: Pool Supply Closet
Personnel Present: Ustinov

Searchlight, do you copy?

Copy, Lionwolf.

We're safe for now. As far as I know, Mr. A. Imalitovich isn't coming in today.

To think all these years, and I never noticed Sweikart was an insurgent.

Blindsided me too. Searchlight, can I ask?

What ask?

Just… Why Nixon?

Nixon was the proof of concept, you see. We were supposed to roll out the program in 1974. But he resigned, and we had to go back to the redesign stage. Wouldn't be covert if the picture on your coffee table was the wrong president. When Theremin did that, though, he couldn't get it to work on Ford, or Carter, or even that pig Reagan. Just Nixon. Cannot explain why. So, we're just kinda working with what we had.

I think it still worked well. They love Nixon.

Da.

Searchlight, I'm considering we enter deep cover. It's heating up between the Insurgents and the Foundation, right now we should be on the sidelines to that.

What do you consider deep cover?

You like rock and roll?

Technician Sweikart's personal record player relocated to Pool Supply Closet for ease of containment.

Object is reclassified to Integrated to formalize its function as a transmitter for the Site-48 Recreational Radio Channel.